"The first victory we can claim is that our hearts are free of hatred. Hence we say to those who persecute us and who try to dominate us: ‘You are my brother. I do not hate you, but you are not going to dominate me by fear. I do not wish to impose my truth, nor do I wish you to impose yours on me. We are going to seek the truth together’. THIS IS THE LIBERATION WHICH WE ARE PROCLAIMING."
Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas (2002)

Monday, August 5, 2013

Amnesty International demands Cuba release of 5 prisoners of conscience

“These five cases are only the tip of the iceberg for Cuba’s repression
of free speech.” - Javier Zúñiga, Special Advisor for Amnesty
International.

Cuba: Release five prisoners of conscience immediately

Human rights activists, such as "Ladies in White" targeted by Cuban authorities.

The Cuban authorities must immediately and unconditionally release
five men who have been named prisoners of conscience by Amnesty
International.

The cases of the five men – Rafael Matos Montes de
Oca, Emilio Planas Robert and the brothers Alexeis, Diango, and Vianco
Vargas Martín – are indicative of the continuing repression of freedom
of expression on the island, the organization said.

“These five
cases are only the tip of the iceberg for Cuba’s repression of free
speech,” said Javier Zúñiga, Special Advisor for Amnesty International.

“The
only progress made by the Cuban government has been the reform of the
Migration Law earlier this year. It allowed many people including human
rights defenders and government critics to travel abroad. Much more
needs to be done to guarantee civil and political liberties in the
country.”

Emilio Planas Robert and Rafael Matos Montes de Oca Both
have both been found guilty of peligrosidad (dangerousness, or “special
proclivity to commit crimes”) and sentenced to medidas de seguridad
predelictivas (“security measures”), even though no evidence was
presented against them in court.

“The use of this particular
legislation, which allows the government to jail its citizens on the
slightest evidence because it believes they may commit a crime in the
future, is a flagrant violation of international standards and must be
immediately repealed,” said Javier Zúñiga.

“This Orwellian law is being used as a pretext to jail government critics,” he added.

Amnesty
International believes the conviction is politically motivated, as both
men are members of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unión Patriótica de
Cuba, UNPACU), a civil society organization which advocates for greater
civil liberties on the island.

Alexeis Vargas Martín and his
17-year-old twin brothers, Diango and Vianco Vargas Martín – all members
of UNPACU – have been accused by the police of using violence or
intimidation against a state official (atentado). They have not been
formally charged and their lawyer has not been granted access to their
case-files. They are being held at different prisons in Santiago de Cuba
province.

“Repression of independent journalists, opposition
leaders and human rights activists increased last year in Cuba, and show
no sign of abating,” Javier Zúñiga added.

“In recent months, we
have received scores of reports of people who were arbitrarily arrested
and even imprisoned on ludicrous charges that violate international
standards.”

By the end of June this year, 2,143 people are reported to have been subject to short-term arrests in Cuba.

There
were reports of an average of 400 short-term arrests each month during
2012 and activists travelling from the provinces to Havana were
frequently detained. The independent Cuban Commission for Human Rights
and National Reconciliation reported 6,602 detentions of government
critics last year, compared to 4,123 in 2011 and 2,074 in 2010.

Background
Cuban
investigative journalist Calixto Martínez was freed on 9 April 2013
after Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience in
January. He was held for almost seven months in prison but was never
formally charged with any crime.

Emilio Planas Robert and Rafael
Matos Montes de Oca were arrested in the eastern city of Guantánamo on
23 and 27 September last year respectively, after posters with
anti-government slogans appeared around the city.

Alexeis Vargas
Martín was arrested on 27 November 2012 in the city of Santiago de Cuba,
as he tried to return to his home. His mother who is a member of the
opposition organization Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) was throwing a
birthday celebration. Pro-government protestors were demonstrating
outside the house and had blocked the road.

His brothers, Diango
and Vianco Vargas Martín, were arrested on 2 December, as they protested
their brother’s detention in front of a police station.